Sheet-gripping mechanism for printing-presses.



a. A. FRIESS. SHEET GRIPPING MECHANISM FOR PRlNTlNG PRESSES.

I APPLICATION FILED NOV- 21% I915. 1,284,086. PatentedNov. 5, 1918.

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G. A. FRIESS.

SHEET GRIPPING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 23.196-

" Patented Nov. 5,1918.

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Application filed November 23, 1916. Serial No. 133,046.

/T0 all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, Gns'rnv A. Fninss,subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sheet-Gripping Mechanism for PrintingePresses; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the in vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in sheetgripping mechanism forprinting presses, and has for its particular object to provide mechanismof this character which is very simple and efficient.

The object of the present invention is to provide sheet-grippingmechanism which includes means for gripping the sheet at pointsexternally of the surface of the sheetcarrier, such as the cylinder of apress, and which thereafter moves the sheet, thus gripped, inwardly tolie upon the surface of such carrier, and which thereafter releases thesheet at a point exteriorly of such carrier, thus positioning the sheetto be more easily gripped or engaged by other mechanism of the press fordelivery to other points and, furthermore, prevents the holding of thesheet upon the carrier-surface by air pressure. i

The particular object of the present in vention is to providesheet-gripping mechanism of the character defined which willoperatesmoothly and relatively noiselessly, as opposed to sudden and jerkymotion involving the loud clicking of sheet-gripping mechanism nowgenerally employed, it being desirable to reduce noise in the press roomin order that press-troubles may be more easily detected and avoided.

A further particular object of the invention is to providesheet-grippingmechanism of the character defined in which the engagementand release of the sheets is offset ed by purely mechanical means actlng1ndependently of springs employed for main taining the sheets firmlyengaged.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationsof parts hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed. y

lln the accompanying drawingsillustrating a suitable embodiment of theinvention:

Figure 1- is a fragmentary detail view Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918..

in side elevation partly in section, showing a press-cylinder equippedwith sheet-gripping mechanism constructed in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. --2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, certain parts shown in Fig. lbeingomitted to expose the sheetgri oping mechanism to view, and showing thelatter in an: other position. p

Fig. -3- is a fragmentary detail section longitudinally of the cylinderon the line 33 of Fig.

Figs. 4-, -5 and 6-- are fragmentary detail transverse sections on theline 4-4; of Fig. -3- showing the grip ping mechanism in its severalpositions.

My present invention relates more particularly to specific improvementsupon the structure disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 77839filled Feb. 12, 19%.

Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates the sheet carrier which, inthe present instance, consists of a rotatable cylinder. In the ends ofthis cylinder are recesses 2 in which radially reciprooable plungers 3are mounted. Each of said plungers is engaged by a helical compressionspring 4; which normally holds the same against the stop 5 providedtherefor. The plungers 3 at'opposite ends of the cylinder 1 areconnected bymeans of an anvil member (3 upon which the free ends of thegripper fingers 7 are adaptedto bear for clamping a sheet between thelatter and said anvil member 6. The anvil member 6 constitutesayokewhich connects the plunger-s.

' illournaled in openings in the plunger-s 3 is a rock-shaft 8 extendinglongitudinally of the cylinder 1 in the longitudinal groovetherein-communicating at its end with the said recesses 2. The saidshaft 8 is equipped at opposite ends with spur-pinions 9 rigid therewithand meshing with rack-bars 10. Each of the latter is provided at itsinner end with a plunger-head 11 reciprocably movable in guide-recessesl2 extendingradially of the cylinder 1 and communicating with the innerends ofthe recesses 2 therein. The said rack-bars 10 have a slidingengagement with the plungers relatively to which they are reciprocablymovable and with which they are also adapted to be simultaneously moved.Each of the plungers 3 is provided in its outer side face withaguidegroove receiving the outer end portion of the rack bar 10, thelatter being held in place therein by means of the plate 13 secured tothe outer side face of each of said plungers 3. Mounted upon studsprojecting from the outer faces of the plungers 3 are antifrictionrollers 14 which are adapted to engage the cam surfaces 15 carried bythe rigid Portion 16 of the frame of the press contiguous to the ends ofthe cylinder 1 and including a surface portion 17 concentric with theaxis of the cylinder 1 and substantially'straight surfaces connecting atopposite ends with said concentric surface 17, said straight surfacesbeing adapted, when engaged by the rollers 14, to move the plungers 3radially inwardly to the inner limit of their movement against theaction of the springs 4, said concentric portion 17 being adapted tomaintain said plungers at said inner limit during the arc of movementcoincident with that described by said surface 17, the other straightsurface of said cam 15 being adapted to permit a gradual radial outwardmovement of said plungers.

The frame of the machine includes a depending flange 18 rigid with thecam portion or member 15 and disposed outwardly of and parallel with thelatter. Secured to the lower end portion of said member 18 are two cammembers 19 and 20 respectively, each provided with parallel inwardlyprojecting flanges 21 and 22 having divergent end-surfaces preferablyrounded. The member 19 is disposed at one side of the vertical plane ofthe axis of the cylinder 1 and at a greater distance from the axis ofrotation than the member 20 disposed on the other side of said verticalplane of said axis, the opposing surfaces of the flanges 21 and 22 beingdisposed so that the ends nearest the vertical plane in the case of themember 19 are disposed nearer the axis of rotation than the other endsof the flanges of said member and vice versa, the ends of the flanges ofthe member 20 disposed nearest the vertical plane of the axis aredisposed nearer the axis of rotation of said cylinder than the outerends of said flanges.

Rigid with the plunger-heads 11 of the rack-bars 10 are studs 23carrying anti-friction rollers 24 which are-adapted to ass between theflanges 21 and 22 of the respective members 19 and 20 successively toimpart reciprocal motion to the rack-bar 10 independently of thereciprocal motion imparted to the plungers 3 by engagement of therollers 14 with the cams 15. The gripper-fingers 7 are carried by thesaid shaft 8 and are adapted to swing through an arc of substantiallyonehundred degrees, more or less, from their normal open positionindicated in Fig. 4 to their normal'closed position indicated in Fig.5-. As the anti-friction; rollers pass between the flanges 21 and 22 ofthemember 19' the said rack-bars 10 will be moved radially inwardly ofthe cylinder 1 thereby eflecting rotation of the shaft 8 in thedirection to cause the free end portions of the gripper fingers 7 toengage the outer face of the anvil member 6. This closure is obviouslyeffected, as will be apparent from Fig. 1, about simultaneously with theengagement of the cam 15 by the roller 14 so that, after said gripperfingers have engaged the edge portions of the sheet to be passed betweenthe cylinders 1 and 25, the anvil member (3 will, together with thegripper fingers, and without varying the position of the latter, moveradially inwardly of the cylinder 1 to properly position the sheet uponthe latter, preferably with said edge portion and the engaging endportions of the gripper lingers disposed inwardly of the surface of saidcylinder 1, thus preventing any contact of PIOJGCting metal portionswith the surface of the cylinder 25. As soon as the antifriction rollers14 have passed the concentric cam-surfaces 17 the plungers 3 will begintheir outward movement, and this will be gradually accomplished so thatthe anvil members attain the outer limits of their movement at a pointin the rotation of the cylinder 1 which will keep said anvil membersfree of contact with the surface of the cylinder 25. anvil member hascompleted its outward movement to the position shown in Fig. 6, theanti-friction rollers 24 will enter between the flanges 21 and 22 of themember 20, and at this time a radial outward move ment will be impartedto the rack-bar 10 which will serve to effect an opening of the gripperfingers-7 to release the sheet; said gripper-fingers then passingentirely out of the path of the sheet and out of the path of anymechanism which may be provided on the press for engaging the nowreleased edge-portion of said sheet.

Mounted on the shaft 8, contiguous to the ends thereof are two radialarms 26 having bifurcated outer ends. In the latter there are pivotedtwo plungers 27. Mounted on. a longitudinal wall of the recess or groove2 are bifurcated members 28 in which heads 29 are pivotally mounted.Disposed between the latter and the heads of the plungers 27 are helicalcompression sprin s 30 which are held in place by the shanks of theplunger 27 and heads 29 respectively, in a well-known manner.

As the gripper fingers 7 turn to their respective positions, the arms 26compress the springs 30 but after said arms have passed that position inwhich the axes of the shaft 8 and the pivots of the plunger-heads 27 andheads 29 are in alinement with each other, said springs 80 will exertforce tendng o't lrn an h ld the s d r pper fingers in'th'e' respectivepositions indicated.

The action of said springs is, however, free At about the time that theneed-pee only when the rollers 24L are out of engage ment with therespective pairs of flanges of the members 19 and 20 and thus serve onlyto exert pressure to hold said fingers 'Fl' firmly down on the anvilmember 6, and to hold the arms 26 engaged with the stops 81, respectively, in the intervals between the engagement of said rollers 24with the flanges of said members 19 and 20.

The invention is very simple and efficient and operates very smoothlyand with great accuracy, thus aiding in efiecting a proper register ofsheets to be printed in passing through the press.

lVhile I have shown. the preferred embodiment of my invention in theaccompanying drawings, it will be obvious that the same is capable ofmodification and variation to adapt the same to various purposes asmechanical skill and judgment may dictate without departing from theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

ll claim as my invention:

1. In a printing press, a sheet-carrying element provided in its facewith a longitudinal groove terminating at its ends in inwardly extendingguide recesses, an anvilmember disposed within said groove, a pair ofplungers rigid with said anvil member disposed in said recesses, springsfor normally maintaining said'plungers and anvil at the outer limit oftheir movement, cams on the press-frame for moving the same in wardlyagainst the action of said springs, a shaft journaled at its ends insaid plungers and extending through said groove, gripper fingers carriedthereby adapted to coact with said anvil member to engage sheets,reciprocable rack-bars mounted on and movable independently of saidplungers, spurpinions on said shaft meshing with said rack-bars andadapted to be rotated as the latter are reciprocated for actuating saidfingers for engaging and releasing sheets, and coacting means on saidrack-bars and the press-frame for imparting reciprocal motion to saidrack-bars at intervals in respectively opposite directions.

2. In a printing press, a sheet-carrying element provided in its facewith a longitudinal groove terminating at its ends in inwardly extendingguide recesses, an anvilmember disposed Within said groove, a pair ofplungers rigid with said anvil member disposed in said recesses, springsfor normally maintaining said plungers and anvil at the outer limit oftheir movement, cams on the press-frame for moving the same in wardlyagainst the action of said springs, a shaft journaled at its ends insaid plungers and extending through said groove, gripper fingers carriedthereby adapted to coast with said anvil member to engage sheets,reciprocable elements operatively connected with said shaft for rockingthe same independently of the movements of said plungers, and coactingmeans on said rack-bars and the press-frame for imparting reciprocalmotion to said rack-bars at intervals in respectively oppositedirections.

3. ln a printing press, a sheet-carrying element provided in its facewith a longitudinal groove terminating at its ends in inwardly extendingguide recesses, an anvilmember disposed within said groove, a pair ofplungers rigid with said anvil member disposed in said recesses, springsfor normally maintaining said plungers and anvil at the outer limit oftheir movement, cams on the press-frame for moving the same inwardlyagainst the action of said isprings, a shaft journaled at its ends insaid plungers and extending through said groove, gripper fingers carriedthereby adapted to enact with said anvil member to engage sheets,

reciprocable rack-bars mounted on and movable independently of saidplungers, spur-pinions on said shaft meshing with said rack-bars andadapted to be rotated as the latter are reciprocated for actuating saidfingers for engaging and releasing sheets, and coacting means on saidrack-bars and the press-frame for imparting reciprocal motion to saidrack-bars at intervals preceding and following respectively, thereciprocal movements. of said plungers.

a, In a printing press, a sheet-carrying element provided in its facewith a longitudinal groove terminating at its ends in inwardly extendingguide recesses, an anvilmember disposed within said groove, a pair ofplungers rigid with said anvil member disposed in said recesses, springsfor normally maintaining said plungers and anvil at the outer limit oftheir movement, cams 011 the press-frame for moving the same inwardlyagainst the action of said springs, a shaft journaled at its ends insaid plungers and extending through said groove, gripper fingers carriedthereby adapted to coact with said anvil member to engage sheets,reciprocable elements operatively connected with said shaft for rockingthe same independently of the movements of said plungers, and coactingmeans on said rack-bars and the press frame for imparting reciprocalmotion to said rack-bars at intervals preceding and followingrespectively, the reciprocal movements of said plungers.

in testimony whereof l[ have signed my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV A. FIESS. Witnesses M. M. Borne, J J. Yonne.

topics or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe tlommiestoner of Patents, Washington, D. t,

